Verry Elleegant is topweight for the Doncaster Mile and Sydney Cup

Verry Elleegant, arguably the nation’s best racehorse, has been allocated topweight for the $3 million Doncaster Mile and $2 million Sydney Cup for The Championships at Royal Randwick in April.

Racing NSW’s handicapping panel released weights for the two feature autumn carnival handicaps with Verry Elleegant given 58kg for both races.

But it is unlikely Verry Ellegant will tackle either race as trainer Chris Waller is aiming her at the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick, April 10.

Verry Elleegant is chasing her seventh Group 1 win in the $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Aegon cruised to victory in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Unbeaten New Zealand three-year-old Aegon, the $7 favourite for the Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 3, has 52.5kg with another Kiwi-trained galloper, top mare Probabeel, who is on the second line of betting at $10, has 55.5kg.

Proven Group 1-winning milers Fierce Impact and Kolding have 57kg along with Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet.

Colette, winner of the ATC Australian Oaks and Golden Eagle last year, is at $15 for the Doncaster after being allotted 54kg. The Godolphin mare was given 55kg for the Sydney Cup.

Trainer James Cummings initially planned on setting Colette for the Sydney Cup but the mare was so brilliant winning the Apollo Stakes first-up, a Queen Elizabeth Stakes campaign is more likely. She takes on Verry Elleegant in the Chipping Norton Stakes on Saturday.

Colette remains prominent in early Sydney Cup betting at $15 behind Sacramento and Tralee Rose at $13 equal favourites.

Sacramento, winner of the Parramatta Cup last Saturday, and Tralee Rose, who won the Lord Reims Stakes in Adelaide the same day, are both on the limit of 50kg.

Verry Elleegant will continue her autumn campaign in the Chipping Norton Stakes on Saturday. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

#Colleague and form expert Shayne O’Cass went close to tipping the card on the eight-race Tamworth program yesterday.

O’Cass tipped the first seven winners on the program – Lope De Broker, Eyewitness, Mopitts, Depth That Varies, Don’tforgetmonica, Magic On Ice and Rich And Shameless. His selection in the last event, Stellar Blaze started favourite and ran a close third.

A $1 all-up on his first seven winners returned more than $13,500.

PRAGUE HITS STRIDE AS A SPRINTER

Annabel Neasham’s deliberate ploy to train Prague purely as a sprinter this preparation could prove a masterstroke after the three-year-old’s brilliant barrier trial win at Canterbury on Tuesday.

Prague raced on speed with veteran Jungle Edge before drawing clear to take the 905m heat by more than a length in 53.51s, the fastest of the session.

It was an impressive trial win by Prague who showed promise when resuming with a closing third in the Eskimo Prince Stakes behind Peltzer.

“I feel like Prague has come back quite ‘sharp’,’’ Neasham told Sky Thoroughbred Central. “I think his distance range will be 1200m to 1400m.

Prague (right) score an impression trial win at Canterbury Park. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“He was a bit slow away again but he mustered much quicker and Tommy (Berry) was delighted with him. We might look at the Challenge Stakes or possibly the Newmarket at Newcastle.’’

Jungle Edge is on target to run in the Group 2 $500,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 6 for the fifth consecutive year. His best Challenge efforts were his third behind Nature Strip and a second placing to dual The Everest winner Redzel three years ago.

Eduardo has been ridden more conservatively in his trials and is also coming up nicely for the Challenge Stakes. Samadoubt, trained by Bjorn Baker, is set to resume in the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) next week after another brilliant barrier trial win, this time by more than five lengths from ­Dreamforce with Spirit Ridge and Nettoyer also producing nice trials. Chris Waller’s top mare Haut Brion Her won her trial well as did crack colt Wild Ruler.

Originally published asKiwi stars all the rage in Doncaster Mile

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